Introduction to Photoshop
List of Keyboard Shortcuts: Use CMND for Mac and CNTRL for PC
V: Select the move tool.
CTRL D: Deselect and object.
CTRL T: Free TransformRotate the image and resize it. Hold shift to maintain dimensions.
CTRL +: Zoom In
CTRL-: Zoom Out
CTRL/ALT Z: Step Backward
CTRL/SHIFT Y: Step Forward
V: Move tool
E: Eraser
B: Brush
C: Crop
S: Stamp
Tip: Every time you select a different tool if you CTRL click a different set of shortcuts will appear.
Creating New Documents
File>>New: 750x550pixels 72dpiThis selects how big the canvas you will be working on is.
750x550 is the standard canvas for web design so well just use that for our poster design as well. If
you are planning to make a high quality print out of something you will want to up the dpi (dots per
inch) to around 100 or greater. You can also set your canvas size to the size of a standard sheet of
paper (8.5x11). Note that there is a difference in between pixels and inches and make sure your
settings are correct.
Tip: If you zoom in and out a lot make sure you know how big the image youre working on
really is by referring to the zoom percentage at the bottom left hand window of your screen.
Or
File Open: Choose an already existing image to work on. This might be the case if youre starting
with something like a pre-existing advertisement you want to subvert.
Saving DocumentsSave Types
File>>Save or Save As
First make sure you always keep a working Photoshop version of your file. So, save your file as
Photoshop or PSD. This will make sure if you have to edit something later, highly likely in any
professional field, that you can go back and easily manipulate individual layers rather than starting
from a flattened image.
GIF
The GIF format can have a maximum of 256 colors. GIF files support transparency and animation,
and work best with graphics that have large areas of the same color.
JPEGThis is what well be using.
The JPEG format (works best with photographic images or images that have more than 256 colors
and gradients.
PNG
This is a good one to know for web design because PNG lets you save images without white
backgrounds. Well look at this when we get to our web design unit.
The Concept of Layers
There are two major pieces of the photoshop interface that well be using: to the right side is the
Toolbox, which contails all the tools, which well discuss below. To the left is the pallete, which
can be adjusted to feature many things, but were going to be focusing first on layers.
Photoshop works as a system of layers. This is the most difficult but most important concept to
master in beginning Photoshop. Layers allow you to work on different elements of an image
without disturbing the other elements. For example, think about using a typewriter to type the word
Apple in the center of a blank sheet of paper. Now, what if I asked you to move that word to the
right-hand side of the page? Youd have to retype the word on a new sheet of paper. But what if you
cut out the word and layed it on top of another sheet of paper. Then if I asked you to move it, you
could move it to any position you wanted, rotate it, turn it upside down. This is how photoshop
works. Each element is layered on top of the other so that you can change the sizes, shapes,
positions, of one part of your image without having to start all the way over again or being afraid of
ruining the other layers.
1. The first rule of layers is: Always create a new layer. For every element you add, create a new
layer. You might want to get lazy and try to put multiple things (images, text, etc.) on one layer. But
if you have to go back and edit something, you will be d angry because you will have to worry
about disturbing the other elements. For instance, if I had a picture of an apple and the word apple
on one layer, I couldnt just make the image of the apple bigger, I would have to make both bigger
or copy the picture and put it in another layer then erase the apple from the first layera lot of work
that could have been reduced if I had maintained separate layers.
To create a new layer: 1. Use the shortcut Shift+Command+N or 2. Use the Layer dropdown
menu and select New Layer or 3. Go to the bottom righthand corner of the layers pallete and click
the icon that looks like a page turning (youll notice that you can do this, like everything in
Photoshop, in numerous ways). You can create a layer of all one color or pattern by selecting the
black and white circle at the bottom of the layers menu and hitting solid color, gradient, or pattern.
2. You can only work on one layer at a time (this isnt technically true, but lets assume it is for
the time being). If we think of layers as multiple sheets of paper stacked on top of one another, well
understand this better. You cant draw on the bottom sheet of paper when youre looking at the top
sheet. You must flip to the bottom sheet to draw. The same thing goes for Photoshop. You have to
select which layer you want to change. Sometimes youll get confused and try to draw on one layer
when you have another selected, it happens to all of us. Dont freak out. Just select the proper layer.
For instance, if I have a picture of an apple on one layer and the word apple on another. And try to
erase the picture and nothing happens, thats probably because I have the text layer selected.
3. The order of layers: Layers can be reordered, like a stack of paper, so that different layers are on
the top. The layer closest to the top of the the screen is the top layer. Some layers may be
transparent (see through) and some layers may not be. If you want to work on a lower layer but the
top layer isnt transparent, you can click the eyeball icon next to a layer to make it invisible.
4. Name your layers with clear labels. Enough said. You want to know at a glance which layer
you are working on so call them things like apple_picture and apple_word. Rename a layer by
double-clicking on the layer name or control clicking a layer and selecting layer properties.
Layer Options
Control click one of your layers and select blending properties in the menu that pops up. This is
where a lot of photoshop fun happens. Im not going to go over all the different tools in this
blending properties menu. Youll have to play with some of them. The first menu youll be on when
you enter blending properties, though, is fairly useful because it contains the Transparency slider.
By using that slider you make the layer more or less see through which is useful, for instance, if you
want to make someone look like they are under water or behind glass.
You can make a copy of a layer by control clicking a layer and selecting duplicate layer or
selecting a layer and clicking Command+J. You may want to duplicate a layer if you want to
experiment with altering an image but want a backup of it in case you screw up. Its always better to
be safe than sorry. Remember, you can always make that duplicate layer invisible by clicking the
eyeball.
If you end up with a ton of layers, you may consider creating a layer folder or group by clicking the
folder icon at the bottom of the layer pallete next to the new layer icon or by opening the layer
menu and selecting new group. By throwing a few similar layers in that folder you can make them
all invisible at once or move everything in the folder at the same time. You can also link layers
together to move them at the same time or simply select several layers at ones by shift clicking
multiple layers.
